Luke Humphries insists Luke Littler is still the player to beat in darts and called the teenager’s thrilling match against Michael van Gerwen as “one of the best games” in the Premier League.
Humphries thrashed Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final of the opening 2025 Premier League Darts night in Belfast, four days after winning the Winmau World Masters as he returned to form.
Since becoming world champion a month ago, Littler has yet to reach a final at the two World Series events, or the World Masters and to Van Gerwen in a high quality Premier League encounter on Thursday.
“Littler, the way he’s playing is unbelievable. You’re watching that game against Van Gerwen and you will be very lucky for anyone to match another game like that,” Humphries told Sky Sports.
“He’s by far one of the greatest darts players I’ve seen in my career. I’m not disrespecting myself, but I think he’s the best player in the world.
“If he goes out, I’m the one to beat but he’s definitely the man to beat. He plays darts at such a great pace. He smashes in the trebles and doubles.
Michael van Gerwen took revenge on Luke Littler during their Premier League classic on Night One in Belfast
“This is what happened to me last year. There’s a target on your back, everyone wants to beat you. You average over 100 and people beat you.
“He’s still the best player in the world. But for me, I know I can still play at a decent standard and still win things.”
Humphries and Littler largely dominated 2024, winning six major PDC titles between them.
The pair sit at the top of the Order of Merit, with Van Gerwen in third but not winning a title last year.
“Luke’s performing the best and he’s just been a bit unlucky – he has a target on his back being the world champion,” Humphries later added to the press.
“Everyone wants to beat him and this will happen, you know this will happen over his career but you know, for me, I always know that I can compete with the best and you don’t get to number one for nothing.
Luke Humphries had a superb start against Chris Dobey in their final clash on Night One in the Premier League with two early 100+ checkouts
Humphries: Littler vs Van Gerwen one of best Premier League matches ever
Humphries’ opening night win was almost overshadowed by Van Gerwen’s epic 6-5 quarter-final victory over Littler in Belfast.
Littler averaged a staggering 113.91 – the second highest losing average in Premier League Darts history – to Van Gerwen’s 105.91, with both players on top form, just a day after the Dutchman criticised Littler for being late to a media event.
“I’m looking forward to playing him [Littler] in many, many games this year and I’m going to have to be at my utmost best, like Michael played tonight, absolutely brilliant,” said Humphries.
Luke Littler brilliantly took out 161 to move level at 2-2 against Michael van Gerwen in their Premier League clash
“That was a fantastic game. It’s going to be a tough one to match that as a better game the whole 16 weeks but I thought it was one of the best games in the Premier League I’ve ever seen.
“So he [Littler] is playing well, he’s just a bit unlucky at the moment but he does drive you on.
“He makes you want to be better and he’s a fantastic talent, he’s just going to be so great over the next 20 years and it’s up to me to get better to try and challenge him.”
Luke Humphries took out 140 and 120 as he showed his class against Michael van Gerwen
Humphries: This is hardest Premier League for a long time
Humphries lost to Littler in last year’s Premier League Darts final and is hoping to go one step better this year.
The 29-year-old is aware that there still 15 weeks of action to come before the Play-Offs, where the top four in the league battle it out for the title, and he thinks this year’s field is one of the toughest ever.
“I think this is the hardest Premier League for a long time. Nights like this might not happen as much as you want,” he said.
Luke Humphries says this is the hardest Premier League for ‘a very long time’ and admits he learns a lot from the competition
“Nathan [Aspinall] is playing better, [Gerwyn] Price and Rob [Cross] is playing better and Chris Dobey is in form. Last year, Rob, Gezzy and Peter Wright weren’t in form.
“I do think the PDC made the right call. The right players are in. I think it’s going to be tough. It’s all going to chop and change.”
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